The Toyota 2000GT Ruined Porsches and Jaguars In Every Department

Who designed the Toyota 2000GT?

Initially, the whole styling was done by Yamaha but Toyota only approved the design after inputs from their in-house designer Satoru Nozaki. Eager to shed their economy car image Toyota wanted something that would look a class apart and help them break into the GT car market. 

Nozaki who clearly took his inspiration from vintage British roadsters designed the car with sloping styling, a Kammback-esque tail, fender-mounted mirrors, and the iconic pop-up lights. The interior featured expansive woodwork on the dash and hear level which was done by Yamaha experts who made wooden musical instruments using techniques that would minimize cracking and peeling.

Yamaha also had a very good experience making boats and the same methodology was used when prototypes for the 2000 GT were developed. The sheet metal was carved by hand until the desired shape was reached.

Toyota Crown Supplied The Engine

The Toyota 2000GT has a longitudinal 2.0L naturally aspirated straight-6 engine that they called the 3M. The engine, based on the Toyota Crown sedan, was fitted with 3 two-barrel Mikuni-Solex 40 PHH carburetors coupled with the DOHC that produced around 150 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 129 lb.-ft at 5000 rpm.

There were 9 specially made 2000GTs with a slightly larger 2.3L inline-6 cylinder engine with a SOHC. The lower power output of 140 hp at 3,800 rpm had it named 2M in the industry. The power-assisted disc brakes and the limited slip differential were introduced for the first time in Japan by the Toyota GT.

The use of coil springs on double wishbones and LSD on all four wheels delivered incredible ride quality and could do up to 30 mpg tanks to a low curb weight of just 2469 lb and Magnesium alloy wheels. The engine was mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or optional 3-speed automatic.

The 2000GT came with three different final drive ratios 4.625, 4.375, and 4.111. It could do 137 mph and had a braking distance of just 46 ft from 31mph-0 as per the manual.

What makes the 2000GT so famous?

When it made its debut, the 2000GT shell shocked the audience around the world. In addition to its svelte styling and lively handling, the fact that someone as conservative and practical-minded as Toyota could pull off such a sports car that shames 911s and E-Types of its era in nearly everyone department.

A 3rd position at the 1966 Japanese Grand Prix, a win in the inaugural Suzuka 1000 Kilometers the same year, and 24 Hours of Fuji as well as the Fuji 1000 Kilometers the year after made the 2000GT incredibly famous in Japan.

The Toyota was a Bond Car in 1967. Not the fastback coupe version but there were two specially-made open-top 2000GTs for the 007 movie “You Only Live Twice” for Sean Conney who was 6 ft 2 inches tall and couldn't really get into hardtop 2000GT.

How much is the 2000GT from Toyota worth today?

The Toyota Grand Tourer was originally priced around $7,150 in 1968 and it was above the likes of the Jaguar E-Type or the Porsche 911 S. Although there were more expensive options in the market like the Ferrari 365 GTB/4, the Toyota was considered a pricey affair.

It is only natural that an expensive sports car with unmatched design and impressive output from the late 60s will have a significant value at present. The average figure the 2000GT is sold at is about a million USD but the top sale made by the same was a record $2.5M in March 2022. 

Only 150 units of the Toyota were sent overseas, out of which only 60 reached the US making it a rarer find in this market. Recently, Toyota also confirmed that they will be making replacement parts for 2000GT as required.

Image source- Toyota Press/Josh Hway-Courtesy Gooding & Company/Wikimedia